Elite SF club hit with harassment lawsuits after low-wage worker allegedly mocked as ‘hunchback’

One of San Francisco’s most exclusive clubs is facing bombshell allegations of harassment and labor violations from two employees, including demeaning slurs about a disabled dishwasher’s genitals and unwanted groping.

Rene Panti, a dishwasher since 2021 at The Battery, the elite invite-only club frequented by politicians and celebrities, alleged in his lawsuit that he was berated weekly for three years by co-workers with discriminatory slurs, which management did little about besides asking staff to “stay professional.”

The dishwasher was taunted as “hunchback” and “useless” due to his spinal condition, according to the lawsuit, and one coworker even said “your penis doesn’t work anymore.”

Panti has congenital scoliosis, which is curvature of the spine.

He and another worker filed separate lawsuits against The Battery within the last two weeks, the San Francisco Chronicle reported, seeking unspecified damages for emotional distress and lost wages, among other penalties such as mandatory workplace training.

The alleged verbal harassment escalated to physical harassment last year, said Panti, when coworkers would put their hands on his back despite him asking them not to. In one instance, he said his nipples were pinched.

In addition, the dishwasher alleged he was placed on leave for a month due to his disability, resulting in lost pay. When Panti asked for a promotion again in 2022, the chef allegedly began to treat him with hostility, such as assigning excessive workloads, permitting the coworkers’ harassment and denying him breaks.

Reports to human resources resulted in no discipline, Panti alleged.

The lack of promotions seems to be a key complaint for Panti, whose lawsuit claimed was specifically due to his disability. He was allegedly directly told by a manager that he “will never be promoted to work at the bar because your physical appearance does not conform to the standards of the company.”

“We are confident that every allegation in the complaint will be corroborated — by coworkers who worked alongside him, by documents, and by the Battery’s own records,” Steven Chizen, Panti’s attorney, told the Chronicle. “We look forward to proving this case to a San Francisco jury.”

The other employee, Donald James Goglio, sued The Battery for allegedly failing to pay minimum wages and overtime. There were no proper breaks, he alleged, and business expenses were not reimbursed. All this was to “unfairly cheat the competition and unlawfully profit,” his lawsuit claimed.

A LinkedIn profile of the same name says he has been a front desk agent for The Battery since August 2025, the Chronicle reported.

The luxe club firmly denied all the allegations in a statement to the Chronicle and claimed Panti’s lawsuit omitted critical facts.

“The Battery does not agree with the allegations or with the attempt to portray them as companywide violations,” the company said. “The Battery maintains wage-and-hour policies and timekeeping practices intended to comply with California law and will defend those practices in court.”

The business is one of the most well-known in the Bay Area city with its luxurious interior and invite-only memberships costing $2,400 per year.

Founders and tech barons Michael and Xochi Birch turned a marble factory and candy warehouse into the club in 2013.

The Battery boasts multiple dining spaces, a wine cellar, personal trainers, a spa and a hotel. Past clients reportedly have included major celebrities such as singer Justin Bieber and basketball star Kevin Durant.

Another past customer was formerly rising Democrat Eric Swalwell, who resigned from Congress and dropped his gubernatorial bid in California after sexual assault allegations.

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